Ernest Hickok Baldwin was also very well known at the time as the first director of the Saranac Lake Free Library in 1907, where a bronze plaque memorializes his service.

He is also the founder of a private school established in a beautiful building that still stands (as a private home) at 34 Pine St. It is believed that Mr. Baldwin lived on Pine Street but no address is available.

After melding bits of information it appears that the private school opened in 1906 and closed in 1933, kindergarten through 6 — a stretch of 27 years … but the 1933 date may not be accurate.

Following are pieces of a story from The Enterprise published in June 1933.

(Provided photo — Adirondack Research Room, Saranac Lake Free Library)

“The twenty-fifth annual graduation exercises were held at the Baldwin School yesterday morning when diplomas were presented to members of the sixth grade before a crowd of parents and friends by Mrs. Annie Baldwin, principal.”

[Annie, widow of Ernest, was Annie Leonard born in Petterham, MA. Ernest was born in 1869, no location listed, and died in Saranac Lake in December, 1922 at age 53. His funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church in Saranac Lake.]

“A note of sadness was injected into the occasion, however, when Mrs. Baldwin announced that she will not conduct the school next fall. Possibility was seen today, however, that the school will be opened if arrangements can be made whereby some other teacher or teachers can be found to take full charge. [So we don’t know if the school opened again.]

“The school was taught this year by Mrs. Baldwin, Miss Florence Leonard and Miss Eleanor Mayor.

“Members of the graduating class were Ann Packard, Becky Sampson, Alice Ridenour, Billy Distin, Bob McCrum and Howard Malcom.”

Maybe readers can find an ancestor in the following names listed as taking part in the graduation festivities.

Harvey Kelsey, Jean Murphy, Miriam Sidway, Ted Welles, Gertrude Feinberg, Ruth Cooney, William Malcom, Hobart Smith, Eleanor Ridenour, Nancy Jacobson, Betty Schreidner, Phyliss Horton, Jean Hutchins, Mary Packard, Arthur Niederbuhl, Dick Timmerman, Rosanne Wilhide, Jane Gay, Hope Chapman, Alice Walsh, Laura Neal Newton, Laddie Snowden, Juanita Sladen, Jane Delamater, Arthur Goetz, Mary Katherine Johnson, Frank Trudeau, Nora Kinghorn, Peggy Gates, Bob Distin, Larry Burke, Jeremy Blanchet, Ann Leggett, Hope Chapman, Dorothy Newton, Peggy Middleton, Bonita Marion Allen and Patricia Kendall to name a few.

Now according to Historic Saranac Lake’s wiki site: “It [the Baldwin School] seemed to be a little religious as the school day opened with a reading from the Bible and the, prayer, Our Father, was recited. It was a private and tutoring school.”

No question that the private school was for, and obviously affordable for, the elite of the village of Saranac Lake.

Alice Ridenour (Wareham) and her sister Eleanor were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Ridenour, owners and publishers of The Enterprise. I believe that sort of assured good coverage for school events.

Alice was a friend of mine, and my mentor during my early days at the Enterprise. Alice could cover events, write ad copy, run a linotype machine, read proofs and work in the circulation department. She wrote a testimonial for Volume I of my book “You Know What” — and, oh, by the way, Volume II is now on sale at various stores.

How about student Frank Trudeau, whose family was pretty well-known in the village (Hello!); the Packard sisters, daughters of Dr. Edward N. and Mrs. Packard of 142 Park Ave., office at 116 Main St.; then there is Nora Kinghorn, daughter of Dr. H. M. Kinghorn of 14 Church St.; what about my pal, Art Niederbuhl, from one of the most prominent families of the area and president of Adirondack Health for about a hundred years. Phyllis Horton, of Horton’s Greenhouses, 108 River St. whose father won a Silver Medal in the 1932 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid with the 4-man Saranac Lake Red Devils bobsled team. I worked at the Greenhouses one summer when Phyliss was home from college. She drove the van when we delivered flowers to many of the cure cottages.

Now a note about last week’s column. Gremlins got into my space and devoured the credit lines for photos that were from Adirondack Room of the Saranac Lake Free Library. The same credit goes today to the library for photos and copy. Last week the photo of the Miss Saranac Diner was through the courtesy of my friend Phil, “King Bunk,” Griffin. Also last week, listing the six bars within the 150 yards on the “St. Regis Corner.” The former Don’s Melody Lounge in 1946 is today The Rusty Nail, not as I wrote, The Back Door.

Now hear this! The Enterprise recently quoted an old story about an OTB parlor mentioning former Mayor Greg Peacock which, should have read Mayor Robert J. Peacock, who opposed the idea. Mayor Peacock was not only one of the longest-serving Mayor’s in New York State but served as head of the New York State Conference of Mayors. Also, anyone who knows Greg would understand why he certainly would not oppose the OTB parlor but would probably help them build it.